CZECHS VOTE TO JOIN EU - why?

[rumblefish86]

The Czech people have voted overwhelmingly to join the European Union, according to preliminary results of a national referendum.

The State Statistical Office said 77% of voters supported joining the EU with only 12% of votes still to be counted.


Turnout for the binding poll was 55% and the Czech Republic is now set to join the EU along with nine other states next May.

"This is a victory for the Czech people," said Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla.

"The Czech Republic will ... be part of a family of European nations and exercise its right to live on equal footing with others."

Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said the vote marked "the conclusion of an era of our history following the fall of the totalitarian regime."

Many Czechs believe joining the EU will bring long-term economic benefits and raise living standards for future generations.

Some, however, expressed doubts on whether the country - which overthrew communism in 1989 and split from Slovakia four years later - is ready to hand over its fate to an outside power.

The government waged a "yes" campaign but critics said it failed to explain why people should support EU membership.

Widespread fears that prices could rise steeply after joining the union were also not addressed, they said.

So far Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have backed joining the EU in referendums.

Latvia and Estonia will hold referendums in September. Of the 10 candidate states, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership.

[scott thesocialist]

i think you want to know why their are joining, well their are skint and need money so the same reason as ever other country wanting to join, they will receive money from the E.C. and the other european countries will say that it increases trade and choice.With this comes power the more the bigger, the more powerful europe will become???????????

[Anonymous]

Thats pretty much it. The EU hands out large sums of money to its members to reform agricultural and economic practices. I think by joining te EU the Czech Republic is providing itself with the best chance of stability and prosperity

[YKTMX]

Yay for the IMF!

[CompadreGuerrillera]

i come from the Czech Republic and this is my thoguhts

I think that the Czechs think they have suffered enough of "bullying" by other nations, I.e. Germany, USSR, and others, they see it as a chance to improve economic strength, gain new allies, and bring their nation into a "golden age". it is purely and economic measure, their economy is growing but it needs a boost. The cappie system implimented in the velvet revolution, is already corrupt to the core, and the Czechs see it is an economic rescue

that is alll my 2 cents

[Kapitan Andrey]

Yea, CompadreGuerrillera! That's exactly I wanted to say!